# sectarian

/sɛkˈtɛɹiən/ (US) · /sɛktˈeəɹiən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/sectarian
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. religious or political groups

adjective · CEFR C1 · Academic

relating to the differences and conflicts between different religious or political groups.

For teachers: relating to or arising from differences between religious sects or political factions, often implying conflict.

- The country has suffered from sectarian violence for many years.
- The peace treaty aimed to dismantle the sectarian divisions that had plagued the region's political landscape for decades.

Usage: Commonly modifies nouns like 'violence', 'conflict', 'strife', or 'divide'.

### 2. narrow-minded

adjective · CEFR C2 · Formal · Literary

having very strong and narrow beliefs that make you unwilling to listen to other ideas.

For teachers: adhering rigidly to a particular set of doctrines; narrow-minded or parochial in outlook.

- He was criticized for his sectarian approach to the new policy.
- The professor warned against a sectarian interpretation of the text, urging students to consider broader historical contexts.

### 3. a member of a sect

noun · CEFR C2 · Formal

a person who strongly supports a specific religious or political group.

For teachers: a member of a particular sect, especially one who is perceived as narrow-minded or bigoted.

- The sectarians refused to meet with leaders from other churches.
- Historians noted that the sectarians were more interested in internal purity than in forming a broad coalition.

## Examples

- The country is trying to end years of sectarian violence.
- Political leaders called for unity to prevent the dispute from turning into a sectarian conflict between the two religious communities.
- The peace treaty aimed to dismantle the sectarian divisions that had historically fragmented the region's governance and social fabric for decades.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.